MLB Player News

The Padres are making one change to the starting lineup for Sunday’s contest, as Peralta will get the start against Jack Jack Flaherty with Donovan Solano moving to the bench. That means Luis Arraez gets the start at first base. The full lineup for Sunday’s affair: 1B Arraez, RF Fernando Tatis jr., LF David Peralta, 3B Manny Machado, CF Jackson Merrill, SS Xander Bogaerts, 2B Jake Cronenworth, DH Peralta and C Kyle Higashioka.

The Cardinals, who are in full rebuild mode, are seeking multiple prospects in return for the versatile 28-year-old. Where there’s this much smoke, there’s usually fire, so expect Donovan to be donning a new uniform by the time Opening Day rolls around.

Collins, 28, finished in fourth place in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after slashing a healthy .263/.368/.411 with nine homers, 54 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 441 plate appearances. The door should be open for him to see everyday action with the Royals, which should boost his overall appeal for fantasy purposes.

The 27-year-old hurler was non-tendered to free up a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster in late November, but he’ll return to the two-time World Champions on a minor league pact where he’ll continue to provide valuable pitching depth. Frasso posted a 5.49 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 68/42 K/BB ratio over 77 innings in 43 appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com adds that it’s a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season, though the financial terms of the contract are not yet known. The 28-year-old hurler compiled a 4.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 123/56 K/BB ratio over 132 1/3 innings in 25 appearances between the Dodgers and Red Sox in 2025. He’ll add stability to a Cardinals’ rotation that has already dealt away ace Sonny Gray this offseason.

With the Cardinals in a full rebuild, moving Romero for anything they can get before he enters his final arbitration season makes plenty of sense. The Mariners have also checked in on Romero at some point this offseason. The 29-year-old southpaw posted a 2.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 55/29 K/BB ratio over 61 innings while notching eight saves for the Cardinals in 2025.

Rosenthal, Lin and Sammon add the Padres have expressed interest in the Mets’ trio of elite pitching prospects — Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat — while noting that franchise cornerstones Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. have not surfaced in trade discussions. Any deal involving those prospects would qualify as a blockbuster, though McLean’s inclusion would be especially surprising given that he’s been viewed as virtually untouchable since making his major-league debut late last season. New York remains in the market for an established front-line starter and an additional high-leverage reliever to pair with newly acquired stopper Devin Williams following Edwin Díaz’s departure to Los Angeles. While The Athletic notes that nothing appears imminent, this is a situation worth monitoring closely from a fantasy standpoint.

Detroit continues fortifying their high-leverage mix with Jansen joining Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest as ninth-inning options for manager A.J. Hinch. The 38-year-old veteran enters next season just 24 saves shy of the 500 mark after converting 29 chances to accompany a strong 2.59 ERA — 3.98 FIP — and 24.4 percent strikeout rate across 59 innings for the Angels this past season. It’s a phenomenal landing spot from a fantasy perspective as Jansen projects as the clear favorite to handle closing duties with Finnegan and Vest positioned as contingency plans rather than true competition.

Heyman is the first to report the financial terms of the agreement, which surfaced earlier this week. The move comes as a bit of a surprise since the Marlins are bringing Morel in with the expectation that he’ll play first base next season, something he hasn’t done before. The 26-year-old possesses an interesting blend of talent and raw power but he’s struck out just a shade over 30 percent of the time in 1,770 plate appearances in the majors since 2022. He’s the textbook definition of a low-probability lottery ticket for Miami as they search for a solution at the cold corner.

Rodríguez recoded an impressive 1.64 ERA – 3.82 FIP – and 28.4 percent strikeout rate across 44 innings over 39 appearances across three levels in the Athletics’ system this past season. The 24-year-old reliever will presumably open next season back at Triple-A Las Vegas but could be in line to reach the big leagues in short order.

Rodríguez heads overseas in an effort to rebuild his long-term value after posting a catastrophic 9.15 ERA – 8.47 FIP – and 18/7 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings over seven appearances (two starts) between the Brewers and Orioles this past season. The 27-year-old finished the year in the Diamondbacks’ system before they decided to decline his club option for 2026. There’s a chance he returns to the majors at some point down the road.